Millions of people have access to both 3G and 4G on their smartphones and devices. 3G is good and can get the job done, but faster speeds are always wanted for obvious reasons.

For example, Verizon’s 4G LTE offers speeds of up to 12mbps down and 5 mbps up. On the other hand, T-Mobile’s 4G network can give customers speeds of up to 27mbps down. While these speeds are great, a new technology looks to take that to the next level.

Via The Australian:

“A United Nations telecom meeting has approved the next generation of mobile technology, which experts say will make devices 500 times faster than 3G smartphones and eliminate the wait time between the tap of a finger and the appearance of a Web page.”

“The technology will be used immediately for planning changes to equipment but it could take two years to show up on consumers smartphone, tablets and other devices because of the time it takes to get to production, International Telecommunication Union spokesman Sanjay Acharya said Thursday.”

Did they just say 500 times faster than 3G? With speeds like that, mobile networks could one day replace the need for an ISP. Oh, wait…several gigabyte data caps so nevermind.

“The IMT-Advanced system uses radio-frequency spectrum much more efficiently, and devices built with it will need less bandwidth to access the Internet, stream videos and transfer data. That means those devices could deliver blazing fast messages, video chats and even high-definition TV.”

Very exciting technology and with more powerful devices already on the market, by the time we would be able to have access to it (which will be a long time away), we could actually take full advantage of the speeds.

How would you use an insanely fast connection on your smartphone or device?

UN Approves New Mobile Technology That Leaves 4G In The Dust is a post from: The Inquisitr

One month after launching their beta plan for voice and data plans Republic Wireless had changed their policy regarding the use of “unlimited” voice and data. Originally the company announced that customers could only use unlimited voice and text over Wi-Fi connections while 3G data over Sprint’s network came with some restrictions.

Now executives for the pre-paid carrier say those 3G restrictions have been removed. Writing on the company blog a spokesperson revealed:

“Some of you advised that we just step back from being ‘unlimited’, Rather than revising our fair use policy, we’ve decided not to have one at all. There will simply be no thresholds, and no risk of losing service.”

Customers who previously ran over their data caps were forced to drop their Republic Wireless account and switch to a traditional carrier if they wanted to continue with data usage.

The unlimited threshold is available to anyone who signed up during the company’s beta trials, regardless of any changes the $19/month for unlimited talk, text and data even with thresholds is a steal for low and moderate data users.

In concluding their blog post the company noted:

“We realize we got it wrong and look forward to improving as we work together to realize common republic wireless goals.”

It’s nice to see a company that takes responsibility for their mistakes and quickly attempts to make things right with their customers, a move similar to what General Motors did earlier this month to the praise of critics and customers when they discovered a possible fire causing flaw in their Chevy Volt models.

After 15-years working in the wireless industry I again can’t stress how good even limited 3G data access would be with unlimited voice and text plans for just $19/month.

Do you think Republic Wireless will win a bunch of new customers thanks to their active campaign to right any wrongs customers may have with their pre-paid wireless serice?

Republic Wireless Changes Terms, Allows Unlimited 3G Data Access is a post from: The Inquisitr

We can already hear the Apple Swat Team breaking down the auctioneers door on this one, a 3G-capable Macbook Pro prototype has been put up on auction site eBay.

The device was put together when the buyer bought the necessary parts off Craigslist, including a built-in Dynastream ANT2USB modem that was modified to fit inside the aluminum chassis.

Also included with the device is the necessary SIM card with HSPA 3G access to make the device work, alongside a retractable antenna for added connectivity strength.

Proving the systems 3G capabilities, the seller, using Snow Leopard (which showed up two years after the prototype was made) shows screenshots of the recognized modem via the “System Preferences” screen.

According to the seller the prototype is model “Tyco proto #006″ and was an internal project that includes a red colored mainboard and custom rewiring.

There’s definitely a chance that the auction will be shut down by eBay, however the simple fact that the built-in 3G capable Macbook Pro exists in the first place is cause for celebration.

If a winner is chosen, they should be aware that a third-party battery and hard drive had to be installed in order for the unit to operate, sending this one back to Apple for some new parts or ordering them online could be a hassle.

Here’s a screenshot showing the Dynastream ANT2USB modem being recognized by Safari:

Would you be willing to spend extra cash on a Macbook Pro with 3G, even if it meant no support from Apple in the future? I’d be willing to give it a try, knowing good and well that once the battery falls apart I’ll be buying a new notebook.

In the meantime, here’s a look at the Macbook Pro’s red colored motherboard (it looks like something Asus would build):

Apple Macbook Pro 3G Prototype Goes Up For Auction on eBay is a post from: The Inquisitr

Let the rejoicing commence for Canada’s Rogers Wireless customers because Rogers is going all 4G stating Monday May 4, 2011.

Oh, wait.

Maybe not.

According to Knowlton Thomas at TechVibes this is nothing more than Rogers playing the old terminology switcher-roo on its customers.

Except, according to a Rogers document, “the Rogers network is not changing. Only the terminology is changing.”

It won’t be until later this year when Rogers launches its Long-Term Evolution network that the 4G name will be adequately deserved. But considering Telus started bragging about its alleged 4G network back in February, and Bell back in March, Rogers certainly isn’t alone in this questionable behaviour.

So customers will be getting 4G, ala LTE, but it won’t be tomorrow but rather at some point later in the year.

Nice guys, but no surprise at all.

Yay! Canada’s Rogers Wireless goes 4G …. or are they? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Comcast and Clearwire on Friday announced a new deal that users will love. The company’s have teamed up to offer the XFinity 3G/4G MiFi adapter for just $25. The adapter, the same one offered as the Novatel 3G/4G MiFi adapter on Sprint can be purchase for the $25 price point if users are willing to sign a one-year contract.

The best news? The cost of ownership is just $40 per month for the same Clearwire service that Sprint Wireless charges $50 to use. While the adapter is far cheaper than the $80 price tag on the Now Network.

Marketed under the Comcast Internet 2go program it’s a deal worth taking a closer look at.

Clearwire Teams Up With Comcast, Offers $25 XFinity 3G/4G MiFi is a post from: The Inquisitr

Have you always wanted to scale Everest, but the thought of missing your daily Groupon got in the way?

Now you can get on with it without ever missing a Facebook update. Nepali cell service provider Ncell has installed a 3G base station at Mount Everest’s summit, enabling climbers and locals to make calls and use the internet while in the area. Those attempting to scale the mountain used to have to rely on expensive satellite phones or voice only cell coverage that wasn’t comprehensive. But yesterday, the company made a video call from Everest’s base camp yesterday, which means Everest Skype sex isn’t far behind:

“Today we made the (world’s) highest video call from Mount Everest base camp successfully,” Ncell Nepal chief Pasi Koistinen told reporters in Kathmandu on Thursday.

“The coverage of the network will reach up to the peak of the Everest,” he added.

Shall we expect a slew of passive-aggressive Facebook updates from climbers who have tired of each other’s company and that dude who ate all the M&Ms out of the trail mix?

[Image]

Now you can live tweet your Everest climb is a post from: The Inquisitr

The FCC today at their monthly meeting announced a proposal that would help fund mobility projects which would push 3G and 4G mobile data access to rural areas currently not covered by existing wireless companies.

Under the plan the FCC will spend between $100 million and $300 million to spread 3G and 4G capabilities.

The proposal includes the FCC auctioning off the right to the data networks to company’s willing to build the infrastructure for the cheapest cost.

According to FCC officials, the plan would including some funding that has already been raised by the Sprint and Verizon Universal Service Fund.

According to Electronista:

Despite over 90 percent of the US population getting 3G or better coverage from at least one major carrier, about four million Americans have either to resort to 2G or, occasionally, little to no coverage at all. Carriers have long argued that even wireless coverage is often prohibitively expensive for some rural areas since the population counts and median incomes would make any service a money-losing prospect.

What do you think about how the FCC plans to expand 3G and 4G coverage? I’m a little afraid of what type of technology would be used by the lowest bidder!

New FCC Plan: Spread 3G and 4G Data to Rural Areas is a post from: The Inquisitr

Last May we let out a smile when the SlingPlayer came to the iPhone, then a collective “grunt” when we found out AT&T wouldn’t allow the player to stream over 3G, after all we don’t always have access to a WiFi connection. Now we’ve learned that 3G streaming has been given the green light by the U.S. wireless carrier.

Apple still needs to sign off on the capability, however we’ve learned that an upgrade to the 3G version of the program will be offered for free to anyone who has already spent $30 on the WiFi only version.

Now comes the real question. Will the AT&T 3G network, which is already stressed out by current internet browsing iPhone users, be able to sustain a ton of video streaming users. I guess we’ll know if our calls start dropping sometime in the near future. [NY Times]

SlingPlayer iPhone App About To Offer 3G On AT&T is a post from: The Inquisitr

These days it’s “touchscreen this” and “touchscreen that” and while I’m all for rocking multi-touch capacitive interfaces, sometimes a business user needs a capable qwerty keyboard and sometimes they want that keyboard to be featured on something other than a Blackberry. That’s where the HTC Trophy comes into play.

The Trophy is a very slim (11mm) candybar style phone with a full qwerty keyboard and a rather large 3 inch VGA capacitive touchscreen. The unit also rocks the Windows Mobile 6.5 OS, a 5MP with auto focus and 512mb flash and 256mb ROM. While also coming equipped with a built-in GPS, a MicroSDHC card slot and Quad-Band GSM calling features with 3G capabilities.

Throw in FM Radio, a 3.5mm headphone jack, HTC’s Touchflo 3D and a 600Mhz Qualcomm processor.

Overall the HTC Trophy is a nice looking, sleek qwerty keyboard based candybar style device, a nice change of pace over current options found on the market.

HTC Trophy Gets Pictured, Sports The Candybar Keyboard Style is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Samsung M6560, also known as the “Lindy” debuted today and while it doesn’t offer the sleek appearance of an iPhone or various Android based phones, it does have a “sporty” appeal with enough of a consumer appeal that it should be fairly popular for the phone manufacturer.

The Lindy also features some nice attributes, including 3G with video calling, a 3MP camera that comes equipped with autofocus and WiFi alongside a decent price of $221 (available only in Portugal).

Given that there is a demographic of buyers who want more “sporty looking” devices than those offered by Google, Apple, RIM and other manufacturers, this device could actually be a small victory if Samsung offers it in the U.S. and especially if the price is driven down to the $99 or lower mark with carrier subsidizing.

Samsung M6560 “Lindy” Debuts With Sporty Look, Decent Features is a post from: The Inquisitr

The FCC just received model number PB99100 built by manufacturer HTC, or as we like to refer to it the NexusOne “Google Phone.” Along with that arrival has come some insight into the phones specs, include 3G bands which should prove to be a huge win for T-Mobile USA and other carriers around the world.

The filing shows MicroSDHC card support for the device, which at the current moment provides up to 16GB expandable memory, while also featuring WiFi 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth 2.1 with enhanced data rates.

However, the real news sits within the phones 3G capabilities and according to FCC tests the unit offers a quad-band GSM/GPRS/Edge setup with UMTS/HSUPA for 2Mbps and 7.1Mbps speed capabilities. According to Engadget the device will offer HSPA 900 / 1700 / 2100mhz abilities which gives 3G to T-Mobile but leaves AT&T with Edge speeds, a move that could be seen as a slap in the face to the exclusive Apple iPhone carrier.

As reported the NexusOne will come completely unlocked for worldwide use, will feature Google Android 2.1 and also comes with a Google created user interface that has been heralded by early critics as an ‘iPhone type experience on steroids.”

More to follow as more info becomes available…

NexusOne “Google Phone” Gets Spec’d During FCC Approval is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Acer Liquid A1 has generated a good amount of interest, now it appears that AT&T may be scooping up the device to add to their arsenal of top-tier smartphones. The mobile was recently spotted at the FCC spotting the 850mhz and  1900mhz bands, options used by the United States wireless carrier.

While AT&T has yet to confirm the device for their network, the 3G frequencies could be a good sign of the devices eventual arrival on their network. It would also signal a smart move for AT&T who have fallen behind their competitors when it comes to adapting the ultra-popular Google Anroid mobile OS.

There’s still no word on pricing or a possible availability date for the device, we’ll keep you updated as more info surfaces.

Acer Liquid A1 Revealed At FCC With AT&T 3G, Nothing Confirmed At This Point is a post from: The Inquisitr

T-Mobile USA today announced the official November 18th release date for the Samsung Behold II, the companies next phone to feature the Google Android OS.

The Behold II features 3G data speeds and WiFi for easy connectivity, while also becoming the first T-Mobile sponsored device to feature a 3.2-inch AMOLED screen.  The smartphone also features a 5MP camera with autofocus, zoom, flash, five shooting modes and video recording capabilities

Samsung has also integrated their “Cube Menu” which gives fast access to music, photos, videos, web surfing, YouTube and Amazon MP3 music download.

“With its first-rate multimedia capabilities front and center, the Samsung Behold II adds an exclamation point to T-Mobile’s already impressive Android lineup for the holidays,” said Wendy Piñero-DePencier, vice president, brand and calendar marketing, T-Mobile USA. “The combination of 3G speeds, its high-resolution touch-screen, and access to loads of entertainment features is sure to make the Behold II into a holiday hit.”

The Android-powered phone also features the Samsung TouchWiz user interface with its moveable widgets  and one-touch access to commonly used features and applications.

Users will also be able to take advantage of Google services directly from their phone, including Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube and Google Talk, while of course downloading applications and games from the Android Market as they see fit.

Business users will also find some handy options via the Samsung Behold II such as personal and corporate e-mail abilities with Exchange ActiveSync.

The Behold II also features built-in GPS, Bluetooth 2.1 + A2DP, visual voicemail, and MicroSDHC card support that can provide up to 16GB, although a 2GB microSD card comes standard with the device.

T-Mobile has stated that the smartphone will be ready for sale at nationwide T-Mobile retail stores and through T-Mobile.com beginning November 18th, 2009.

Samsung Behold II Arrives At T-Mobile On November 18th is a post from: The Inquisitr

With AT&T rolling out 7.2Mbps 3G services it was only a matter of time before they begun showing off the devices that will power those connections, one of the first being the AT&T USBConnect Lightning designed by Sierra Wireless.

The USBConnect Lightning offers 7.2Mbps downlink capabilities but outside of that fact it’s nothing more than a standard USB stick, although it does offer a “swivel usb port” that makes connecting the unit to your gadgets a whole lot easier.

The device rolls out officially on November 22nd and can be snatched up for free with a two year data plan agreement.

The original launch is set for Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Miami and Los Angeles, all of which will go live by the end of the year. [AT&T]

AT&T Shows Off Sierra Wireless 7.2Mbps USBConnect Lightning is a post from: The Inquisitr

An e-mail said to be from Steve Jobs indicates a new update slated for September. The update will fix a bug that causes the phones not to load some third-party apps at startup, AppleInsider reports. The site says a user had e-mailed Jobs and then received a one-line personal response:

“This is a known iPhone bug that is being fixed in the next software update in September.”

The app issue is the latest in a line of widespread problems for the iPhone, which started right off the bat with the activation day meltdown. MobileMe problems followed, and then, most recently, we’ve seen the well-reported coverage and dropped call woes.

Still, Apple is doing all right on the whole: A consumer satisfaction study made public this week shows the company scoring a record-high number, with 85 percent of its users saying they’re happy. The next highest-rated company, Dell, came in 10 percentage points lower.

Of course, that survey was probably taken before the iPhone came out. Are people still satisfied?

Another iPhone Fix on the Way? is a post from: The Inquisitr

The iPhone 3G will be released July 11 in 22 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the United States. The black 8GB model will be marketed at $199, while the 16GB version — to be made available in either black or white — will go for $299.

The new phone will be a smaller and sleeker design with solid metal buttons and the same large display. The added 3G support will mean data downloads almost three times faster than EDGE speeds, Jobs said. The iPhone 3G is also 36 percent faster than other comparable phones like the Nokia N95 and Treo 750, according to Apple. It will also add integrated GPS support, which will allow for “tracking” — a moving dot on a real-time Google map showing your location.

The updated model is said to have 300 hours of standby battery life and double the amount of talk-time as its predecessor, with five full hours. It will offer five to six hours of high-speed browsing, seven hours of video, or 24 hours of audio without the need to recharge.

Jobs said the updated phone will include fully built-in enterprise support, third-party application support, as well as support for more countries than ever — now 70 total — thanks to the many added features in the upcoming iPhone 2.0 software package, also announced Monday along with a slew of new third-party applications.

Apple is hanging onto its goal of 10 million iPhone sales by the end of 2008 — a mark that will no doubt be made easier once the new phones hit store shelves.

iPhone 3G To Start At $199 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jobs’ keynote address at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, at 10 a.m. PDT, is widely anticipated to contain the news of the new 3G-capable phone. Rumor has it the cost will drop down to $199, too, and could be available as soon as the summer.

We’ll be watching and will bring you the developments as they happen right here.

Countdown To iPhone 2.0 is a post from: The Inquisitr